Ambulatory & Primary Health Care Directorate
JOB AND PERSON SPECIFICATION
Title of Position:
Administrative Unit:
Consultant /Senior Consultant, Thoracic Medicine
Ambulatory and Primary Health Care Directorate,
Community Care Thoracic Physician
Central Northern Adelaide Health Service
Classification Code:
Department:
MD-2
Thoracic Medicine
Type of Appointment:
Branch: Regional Respiratory Service, Hampstead
Rehabilitation Centre
[ √ ] Permanent
[ ]
Position Number:
Contract
[ ] Casual
Job and Person Specification Approval
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CEO or delegate
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JOB SPECIFICATION
1.
Preamble
SA Health is a large and complex system aimed at ensuring access to quality, safe, complete and affordable
health care for the residents of South Australia. Keeping South Australians healthy and caring for them when
they are ill is a priority for the State Government.
SA Health comprises of the Department of Health and three metropolitan health regions and 1 country health
region. The Chief Executive of Department of Health reports directly to the Minister for Health and has
overarching responsibility for the performance of the health system as a whole. The Department of Health has a
central role in facilitating and monitoring an affordable, sustainable strategy for South Australia Health. This
strategy should guide and assist local managers and clinicians in their decisions about local services.
Central Northern Adelaide Health Service is one of three metropolitan health regions. In line with the
governance changes at a Statewide level the Region has five service directorates (Acute & Specialist Services,
Mental Health, Ambulatory & Primary Health Care, Statewide Services, SA Pathology), and six support
directorates (Chief Medical Officer, Nursing, Allied Health & Patient Care, ATSI Health, Finance & ICT, Human
Resources & Organizational Development, Business Development, Planning & Performance).
The Department of Thoracic Medicine’s core aim is to improve respiratory health and reduce the social and
economic impact to individuals and the community. The Department delivers a number of State-wide, regional,
rural acute care and community Programs and Services and is involved in policy setting, strategic planning,
population health based initiatives and advocacy. It provides patient focused services in hospital and in the
community. The Department also provides multi-disciplinary undergraduate and postgraduate education to
health professionals and the lay community in respiratory disorders locally, nationally and internationally. The
Department is involved in a range of quality improvement initiatives and conducts clinical and basic research
into the causes and management of respiratory disorders. The Department aims to be a leader and innovator at
local, state, national and international levels in these areas.
The Department is working in partnership with Ambulatory and Primary Health Care (A&PHC) Services in the
Central Northern Adelaide Health Service (CNAHS) Metropolitan Region, to establish a new and innovative
approach in the community for the care of patients with respiratory disorders and their carers. This new
Regional Respiratory Service is located within A&PHC in the CNAHS Metropolitan Region. The Community
Respiratory Physician works with a multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals,
scientists and administrative staff to lead the management of patients and their carers and to support a range of
clinical programs to be provided in a range of community based settings including GP Plus Centres. As the
senior clinical person in the Service, one component of the position will be to provide overall clinical
management of the Service.
In addition to day to day clinical leadership the Lead Physician will have a strategic and policy role within the
Service and Thoracic Medicine . He/she will work closely with the Program Manager and staff to utilise their
management skills and knowledge of health systems, including public health, to ensure that the clinical and
business aspects of the programs provided by the Service are appropriate for and responsive to the needs of
the patients of Thoracic Medicine and A&PHC.
The Lead Physician to work closely with clinicians across the Region (doctors, nurses and other health
professionals) and A&PHC to design, implement and manage efficient effective and transparent business
systems to support clinical services across a broad range of areas. The team will be expected to lead change
through application of a range of strategies, tools and techniques to health workplace contexts. This may
require liaison with a range of other services and health professionals both within and outside the Central
Northern Adelaide Health Service and require a broad understanding of the priorities and politics of the health
system.
The Department supports staff development activities. The Department involves itself when possible in
desirable non core activities whose aim is to assist the achievement of the core activities.
2.
Summary of the broad purpose of the position in relation to the organisation's goals (its expected outcome and how
it is achieved).
To provide high standard specialist clinical services to patients referred to the Community Respiratory Service.
To jointly lead the community respiratory services team and to promote and aid co-ordination and integration of
respiratory care between community and acute care areas.
To have a significant input into the development of a Regional Community Respiratory Service for Central
Northern Adelaide Health Service.
To provide clinical services within the Acute and Specialist Services.
Contribute to teaching/training at undergraduate, postgraduate and community levels.
Conduct research and develop new or enhance existing programs.
3.
Reporting/Working Relationships (to whom the person reports, staff for whom the person is responsible, and other
significant connections and working relationships within the organisation).
Responsible through the Director, Thoracic Medicine, Royal Adelaide Hospital to the Director Healthy Ageing
and Community Rehabilitation Ambulatory & Primary Health Care.
The position will be located within CNAHS, Ambulatory and Primary Health Care Services – the position will
meet regularly with the Director Thoracic Medicine and the Director Health Ageing and Community
Rehabilitation to ensure program integrity.
The position will work alongside the Program Manager Regional Respiratory Service in the overall management
of the program.
Required to collaborate closely across Acute and Specialist Services, other primary care providers and with the
Thoracic Medicine Department’s senior medical, nursing, scientific and administrative staff, those of other
Regional hospitals and relevant community service providers.
Required to supervise the clinical practice of allocated trainee medical officers in the Department and Nurse
Practitioners attached to the Program.
4.
Special Conditions (such as non-metropolitan location, travel requirements, frequent overtime,
etc.).
Must participate in the Department’s acute care services and the after hours on-call roster.
Must be prepared to attend relevant meetings and staff development/education activities as required.
May provide non metropolitan services.
Intra and inter state travel may be required.
Meet with the Director, Thoracic Medicine on a 2 monthly basis or as required to report on progress in areas for
which he/she is responsible.
Participate in an annual performance review as per Hospital policy.
This Job & Person Specification will be reviewed every two years.
5.
Statement of Key Outcomes and Associated Activities. (Group into major areas of
responsibility/activity and list in descending order of importance).
To provide high standard specialist clinical services to patients referred to the Department of Thoracic
Medicine in community and hospital settings.
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Promote and aid co-ordination and integration of respiratory care - primary, community specialist and
tertiary.
Provide leadership for an integrated service with a special reference to the community respiratory
assessment unit, the domiciliary oxygen service and pulmonary rehabilitation.
Lead in the integration and evaluation of services for pulmonary rehabilitation in the community.
Assist in the selection of patients for pulmonary rehabilitation.
Assist in the respiratory admission avoidance and early discharge schemes, and act as a link between
the acute hospital respiratory services and the community respiratory team.
Act as a respiratory medicine learning resource and provide continuing education for primary care
medical practitioners, undergraduate and postgraduate students, practice and community nurses and
allied health workers.
Implement and evaluate outreach models of care, both on a trial basis within individual practices (place
of work teaching) and a community-based consultant clinic.
Assess and manage patients with complex breathlessness in the community, liaising where appropriate
with other services such as cardiac and palliative care services.
Providing specialist medical services to patients under the Consultant’s direct care or to patients under
the shared responsibility of the Department and its Consultants as necessary.
Specific clinical commitments for 7 sessions per week in the community and three sessions in an acute
hospital setting (undertaken in accordance with a negotiated work schedule) to be achieved by rotation
of the community duties with the other staff in the Department are;
 Ambulatory care clinics.
 Undertaking invasive thoracic procedures.
 Providing care for patients in the Thoracic Ward and the Consultative Service as per the
Department’s roster.
Providing clinical leadership to facilitate and support a team approach to the provision of clinical
services.
Supervising the clinical practice of allocated trainee medical officers.
Participating in relevant multi-disciplinary meetings.
Ensuring the appropriate documentation of clinical care in patients' medical records and ensuring the
timely provision of discharge summaries, written specialist opinions and requested medical reports of
patients under his/her care.
Assisting the Director in planning and organising the delivery of clinical services.
Fostering the development of community networks appropriate to the Department’s work.
Contribute to teaching/training by:
 Contributing to medical teaching/training programs at undergraduate and postgraduate and community
levels.
 Providing appraisals of medical undergraduates and trainee medical officers assigned to the Unit.
 Contributing to the training of other health professionals.
Contribute to advances in knowledge in the specialty by:
 Initiating and participating in basic and clinical research into the causes and management of respiratory
disorders, particularly with relevance to community care.
Contributing to continuous evaluation and improvement of clinical services by:
 Initiating and supporting clinical care improvement activities. This will involve evaluation of clinical
processes and service outcomes, identifying possible areas for improvement and implementing the required
changes.
Contribute to the efficient management of the financial and material resources of the Department by:
 Using facilities, equipment and supplies in the most cost efficient manner.
 Contributing to business management by overseeing the timely coding of required data.
 Being aware of and adhering to the management objectives and the budget priorities of the Department,
Ambulatory and Primary Care Services, and the Hospital.
Contribute to a patient focused approach in the provision of clinical care by:
 Adhering to and supporting practices that ensure patients' rights are respected.
 Investigating and addressing patient complaints in a positive, constructive matter.
 Maximising the participation of consumers in planning and evaluating services.
Contribute to the adoption of responsive risk management practices by:
 Maintaining an awareness of risk in the clinical environment.
 Actively supporting and contributing to risk management initiatives.
 Reporting sentinel events, potential medical negligence claims and adverse patient incidents.
Contribute to the provision of a safe, healthy and equitable work environment by:
 Reporting staff accidents, incidents and near misses.
 Complying with reasonable instructions or procedures aimed at protecting the health and safety of
themselves and others.
 Carrying out responsibilities as detailed in occupational health, safety and injury management policies and
procedures.
 Maintaining a knowledge of and adhering to the principles and standards of equal employment opportunity
legislation which ensures all employees in the workplace are treated in a fair and equitable manner, free
from discrimination, bullying and harassment.
Acknowledged by Occupant ................................................................
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PERSON SPECIFICATION
ESSENTIAL MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
EDUCATION:
Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians or equivalent, and sub-specialty qualification in
respiratory and sleep medicine, registrable with the Medical Board of South Australia.
Demonstrated participation in continuing medical education since attaining qualification.
PERSONAL ABILITIES/APTITUDE/SKILLS:
Demonstrated clinical excellence and ability to provide clinical leadership in Thoracic Medicine
Demonstrated professional integrity.
Demonstrated commitment to quality improvement.
Demonstrated skill in change management and community based care.
Demonstrated dedication to the concept of betterment of population health and health care delivery and
customer service.
Demonstrated ability and commitment to work in a multi-disciplinary environment.
Demonstrated ability to develop substantial clinical and/or research programs.
Demonstrated commitment to corporate values and behaviour standards.
Possesses high level initiative, the skill to be innovative and adaptable to change.
Able to recognise and meet deadlines and work under pressure and the ability to work effectively with minimal
direction.
High level professional, patient and community communication skills, oral and written.
Skill in management of conflict and crises in individuals and groups.
High self management and work organisation skills
EXPERIENCE:
Extensive experience in Thoracic Medicine.
Demonstrated competency in invasive procedures relevant to Thoracic Medicine.
Extensive experience in teaching and research.
Experience in quality improvement activities.
KNOWLEDGE:
Understanding of quality improvement principles.
Understanding of the rights and responsibilities of patients and their families.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS
EDUCATION:
MD or PhD or other higher degree in an appropriate field
Demonstrated skills in change management, operational research and human resource management
PERSONAL ABILITIES/APTITUDE/SKILLS:
Ability to use personal computers and their various software packages.
Ability in data management, especially in electronic form.
Ability in supervision of a team of medical and non-medical staff.
EXPERIENCE:
KNOWLEDGE:
Understanding of budgetary requirements affecting the Health System.